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Industry Article: Fiber-Based Frac Fluid a Hit in Bakken

Hydraulic fracturing has become one of the most effective tools for reservoir management. Proper stimulation through hydraulic fracturing enables producers to bypass skin damage and create a high conductive flow path for hydrocarbons, thereby accelerating the recovery of reserves and enabling production of unconventional reservoirs at economic rates. Tight gas sands and unconventional formations (for example, the Barnett Shale) may have only marginal producing potential under normal conditions, even with no formation damage. However, hydraulic fracturing has played a major role in turning such provinces into attractive exploration and production opportunities. It is estimated that more than 80% of the wells in the continental US receive hydraulic fracture treatments, and treatments typically represent 10 to 30% of overall well costs. Hence, improvements in fracturing efficiency have meaningful scope, whether in greater well production or lower treatment cost. A good example comes from a series of hydrofraced wells operated by Headington Oil Company in the Bakken formation of the Williston Basin on the North Dakota-Montana border. These horizontally drilled wells in the Bakken typically cost from USD 4 million to USD 6 million through completion and stimulation. Using a new fiber-based fracturing fluid, Headington achieved substantial improvements in fracture effectiveness and the relative cost of the frac treatments.